Elaine Stritch Signed Playbill To Rue

Elaine Stritch was a big Broadway star with a STRONG personality. Rue had the utmost respect for her talent and was a big fan of Ms. Stritch’s one-woman show – “Elaine Stritch At Liberty.” This is Rue’s Playbill from the show that Elaine Stritch signed to her. It reads: “To Rue love & peace Elaine Stritch.” The piece will come with prints of the photos showing Rue and Elaine together and a Certificate of Authenticity from Estate of Rue.

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Rue’s amethyst and bead necklace has a very substantial, expensive feeling to it. Although it is not marked, we suspect it was made by that jewelry designer Rue adored, the one whose name we do not know, but we find her initials – “A.R.” – all over pieces in Rue’s jewelry collection. This necklace has 16 diamond faceted rocks of amethyst that measure almost a half an inch across each, and the 32 smaller diamond shaped stones that bookend the larger ones may be amethyst too! The whole necklace is 32-inches long and it comes with a Certificate of Authenticity from Estate of Rue.

Rue had a new boyfriend at the time of her death. She had already been married six times, had had recent open heart surgery, was recovering from a stroke, and STILL she was like a giggly teenage girl wanting nothing more than to talk about her new man! Her new man sent her three silk floral arrangements. She is posing with her suitor’s photograph and one of the arrangements in the photo taken in her home office posted here, her handyman Julio accidentally smashed the second one – THAT WAS A TENSE DAY AT CASA RUE! – and here is the third. To write that these arrangements were Rue’s prized possessions at the end of her life is an understatement. See the little stuffed dog she is pressing to her cheek in the other photo posted? That was sent to her by her new guy, too, and you can see how important it is to her by the way she is holding it. The gentleman courting Rue was having a birthday the month after her death, his 85th. Rue had already lovingly signed 30 birthday cards to him so he would receive one each day for a full month leading up to his birthday, and she had inscribed one of her gorgeous “doodles” to him for that special day. Just so you know, we sent one of those cards to Rue’s intended each day for those 30 days, and then we sent Rue’s signed doodle to him so it arrived on his birthday. We know that was what Rue would have wanted. Although he was heartbroken at the lose of his “girl,” he was so grateful for the expression of her love for him. Isn’t that romantic? This piece measures 11″ x 11″ and it comes with a Certificate of Authenticity from Estate of Rue.

Rue and Bob Hope worked together when he did an episode of “The Golden Girls” in the late 1980s; Mr. Hope adored Rue and the feeling was mutual. Years later, in the mid ’90s, Mr. Hope asked Rue to appear on one of his television specials and, of course, she was thrilled to do so. This portrait was taken during that appearance. Trivia Fact #1 – Rue used this portrait in her memoir and the publisher’s tag is still on the back. Trivial Fact #2 – Rue was wearing a dress from a episode of “The Golden Girls” when she went on Mr. Hope’s show! This original 8″ x 10″ portrait comes with prints of the photos posted and a Certificate of Authenticity from Estate of Rue.

Rue owned several of these 6-foot long strands of butterflies. She had them in three different sizes, too, and this one is the smallest, with each of the 12 butterflies measuring approximately 4″ across. We don’t know exactly what these little wonders are made out of, but the wings have the same feel and look as if they were from real butterflies. Rue used to hang these in her houseplants, and you can see a strand or two in the tall plant next to her in the photo posted. Rue’s strand of butterflies come with a print of the photo shown and a Certificate of Authenticity from Estate of Rue.

Rue’s large fresh water pearl necklace measures 22″ long, with the knotted pendant hanging down 6″. It is a triple strand that weighs 4.9 ounces. Comes with a Certificate of Authenticity from Estate of Rue.

Rue played Miss Hannigan in a production of “Annie,” and she absolutely loved playing the part. Her character was a child-hating alcoholic who runs an orphanage, so what isn’t to love? Anyway, one of the accessories her character used to keep the kids in line was a whistle, and this is one of two that Rue used when she played the part. The whistle also played a role in rescuing a dog when Rue ran out into the street to slow cars down to protect the stray – see “New York Times” blurb posted. Rue’s whistle from “Annie” – and her hero dog rescuing activities – comes with a Certificate of Authenticity from Estate of Rue.